Board of Public Works Meeting – April 30, 2026
Board of Public Works Meeting – April 30, 2026
The Board of Public Works met on April 30, 2026 (note: agenda and minutes list the date as April 29, 2026) to consider an appeal from a property owner for a snow removal assessment, an agreement for wood chips, change orders, and pay estimates for various projects. All actions were approved unanimously by the five members present.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Property Owner Mr. Watkins (3819 Waldo Blvd.) appealed a snow removal assessment. He explained that he typically clears the sidewalk but on that day heavy snow and cold made it difficult; he had snowblowed but ice remained. He stated he had lived there for eight years and this was the first time a complaint was filed. He expressed his commitment to never let it happen again and offered to buy a metal shovel. The board granted the appeal on the condition that he waives his right to appeal again, with the understanding that the decision still requires City Council approval.
Discussion Items
- Snow Removal Assessment Appeal (26-0379): The complaint was received on February 4, 2026, and the contractor performed the work on February 9, 2026. The board noted the lack of detailed weather data but ultimately voted to grant the appeal based on the property owner's history of compliance and his promise to maintain the sidewalk in the future.
- Agreement with Mulch Express of Wisconsin: Contract for furnishing and installing wood chips for playground cover, flowerbeds, and islands at a price of $15,884.66. The only quote received; funds are from the annual maintenance budget. Approved unanimously.
- Change Orders:
- New Restoration & Recovery Services LLC (Aqualis) – CO #1 for 2026 Televising Misc. Sewers, increased $8,575.00.
- Vinton Construction Company – CO #1 for Red Arrow Beach Access Improvements (adding three pull boxes for electrical conduits), increased $6,216.00.
- Fearing's Madison AV – CO #1 for Council Chambers Audio/Video Upgrade, increased $4,991.60 (encoder).
- Fearing's Madison AV – CO #2 for Council Chambers Audio/Video Upgrade (batteries and charging station for mics), increased $1,205.65. All four change orders were approved unanimously.
- Pay Estimates: Nine pay estimates were approved for various projects, including Franklin Street Reconstruction ($9,939.83), Rubick Field Dry Detention design ($21,600.00), Red Arrow Beach Access Improvements ($114,878.65), 2026 Televising Misc. Sewers ($8,504.64), and five estimates for the Council Chambers Audio/Video Upgrade totaling $183,484.76 ($83,974.97 + $67,335.03 + $24,977.51 + $4,991.60 + $1,205.65). All approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Appeal Granted: The board voted 5-0 to grant the property owner's appeal for snow removal assessment, with the owner waiving future appeal rights. The decision will be forwarded to the City Council for final approval and placed on the consent agenda.
- Agreement Approved: 5-0 vote to approve the wood chip contract with Mulch Express of Wisconsin.
- Change Orders Approved: All four change orders were approved 5-0.
- Pay Estimates Approved: All nine pay estimates were approved 5-0.
- Meeting Adjourned: At 4:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I'll call the meeting to order is five. Four twelve. I'll call the meeting to order at 4 or 12. We have a quorum. First item on the agenda, appeal from property owner for snow removal. Um the gentleman's name. Oh, yeah, I've got us walking. Mr. Watkins. Yes. Welcome to our meeting. Yes, thank you for reminding me. Um basically this is the item, and we're going to be discussing it. Would you like any input? Uh sure. Um, well, first of all, thank you for inviting me for this. You know, I pay off really appreciate this off me. First off, I want to let you guys know I'm not a delete. I don't know. Just not doing anything most of the time I've been living at that resident for the past seven, eight years. I recently bought the house from my sister-in-law that owned the house in 2024. So every winter I usually get the snow removed from that sidewalk area. I mean, that day it was just heavy. I had to take the kids to school, had to get home. Was still snowing at that time that night. So if I didn't get to it, I thought at least I had time to get to it afternoon. And I at least I mean, before I even get a chance to get to it, it was already done. I never nobody said that you know it wasn't a 24-hour you know, notice, but I was told by the lady that I don't shouldn't be worn 24 hours, but I was like, well, I'm just I was asking why it wasn't even getting warned about it, but I understand safety reasons, people are walking on the sidewalks. I know that's the most important thing, but the other place, other areas need to make sure that I get my area clean. So the majority of the time, 100 like 99% of the time, I get that cleared off, and even the sidewall. So it was just heavy that day. I really just like the only time it's happened, somebody called something on me. I've never, I always get that clean. Always always get that clean. I know people had to walk on it. So just one day lap judgment, I don't know what happened. Oh no, was it just it was really cold, and it was really like oh I did snow blow that area. So I snowblowed, but the chunks under the bottom, it got really frozen under that. So that's what happened. Yeah, you can let us all that uh wall 3819 wall. Where is 3819 wall? It's right down the street from timeout, right across the street from Lutheran High School. It's also across the trailer park. You know, okay, right on that. I was trying to guess, you know, because I'm looking at the pictures here and I'm going, I wouldn't recognize that as wall, even though that's in my area. Yeah, you know, so that helps. Thank you. Uh I have a question about the days here. So this says the complaint date was 2-4. And the inspection says 2-9.
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